On the Role of Theory and Modeling in Neuroscience
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-15-2023
Abstract
In recent years, the field of neuroscience has gone through rapid experimental advances and a significant increase in the use of quantitative and computational methods. This growth has created a need for clearer analyses of the theory and modeling approaches used in the field. This issue is particularly complex in neuroscience because the field studies phenomena that cross a wide range of scales and often require consideration at varying degrees of abstraction, from precise biophysical interactions to the computations they implement. We argue that a pragmatic perspective of science, in which descriptive, mechanistic, and normative models and theories each play a distinct role in defining and bridging levels of abstraction, will facilitate neuroscientific practice. This analysis leads to methodological suggestions, including selecting a level of abstraction that is appropriate for a given problem, identifying transfer functions to connect models and data, and the use of models themselves as a form of experiment.
Identifier
85148262330 (Scopus)
Publication Title
Journal of Neuroscience
External Full Text Location
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1179-22.2022
e-ISSN
15292401
ISSN
02706474
PubMed ID
36796842
First Page
1074
Last Page
1088
Issue
7
Volume
43
Grant
DOD ARO W911F-15-1-0426
Fund Ref
Sandler Foundation
Recommended Citation
Levenstein, Daniel; Alvarez, Veronica A.; Amarasingham, Asohan; Azab, Habiba; Chen, Zhe S.; Gerkin, Richard C.; Hasenstaub, Andrea; Iyer, Ramakrishnan; Jolivet, Renaud B.; Marzen, Sarah; Monaco, Joseph D.; Prinz, Astrid A.; Quraishi, Salma; Santamaria, Fidel; Shivkumar, Sabyasachi; Singh, Matthew F.; Traub, Roger; and Nadim, Farzan, "On the Role of Theory and Modeling in Neuroscience" (2023). Faculty Publications. 1920.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/fac_pubs/1920
